Sean Short, the owner of Blooming Health Farms, shares his experience running an aquaponic chicken farm and utilizing hydroponics. He discusses the scale and physical space required for his operation, as well as the measures taken to protect his chickens from predators. Sean also shares his background in agriculture and how he got started in farming. He explains the concept of hydroponics and the unique setup in his garage, which allows him to grow plants year-round. Finally, he addresses the challenge of scaling hydroponics for home use and making it more than just a novelty. The conversation explores various aspects of hydroponics, including its integration into commercial operations and grocery stores. It also delves into consumer perception of hydroponics and the need to educate children about this farming method. The idea of decentralizing the food system and addressing food deserts is discussed. The conversation also touches on the importance of empowering at-risk youth through agricultural entrepreneurship, driven by the personal experience of the speaker with the criminal justice system. In this conversation, Sean Short shares his journey of personal transformation and how it led him to co-found Blooming Health Farms, an organization that uses agriculture to teach life skills and provide mental health support to at-risk youth. Sean emphasizes the importance of making informed decisions and breaking patterns to avoid prison. He discusses the power of creativity and determination in overcoming challenges and highlights the role of mentorship and positive guidance in helping young people channel their energies into productive pursuits. Sean also encourages adults to be curious, engage with youth, and create safe spaces for exploration and failure.

Connect with Sean Online

• https://www.bloominghealthfarms.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/bloominghealthfarms
• https://www.facebook.com/BloomingHealthFarms/
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmaoyl_blQY6KhO5eGByCDg

We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air.

 You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch.

If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at [email protected].

Takeaways

• Aquaponics combines fish farming and hydroponics to create a synergistic farming system.
• Protecting chickens from predators requires strategies such as using geese as alerts, secure fencing, and night guard solar predator controls.
• Hydroponics allows for year-round plant growth and can be scaled for home use with the right setup and lighting.
• Raising awareness and educating consumers about alternative farming methods like aquaponics and hydroponics is crucial for their wider adoption. Hydroponics is being successfully integrated into commercial operations and is gaining traction in grocery stores.
• Consumer perception of hydroponics can be influenced by the visual representation of traditional farming methods.
• Educating children about hydroponics can help bridge the gap in understanding and acceptance.
• Decentralizing the food system and implementing hydroponics in food deserts can improve food security and access to fresh produce.
• Empowering at-risk youth through agricultural entrepreneurship can provide life skills and mental health support. Making informed decisions requires learning about the law and seeking information to have better-informed choices.
• Breaking patterns and creating stability in life can lead to personal growth and transformation.
• Using agriculture as a tool can teach life skills and provide mental health support to at-risk youth.
• Being open, curious, and engaged with youth can help guide them towards positive pursuits and personal development.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and What Are You Growing?
• 01:38 Scale and Physical Space
• 12:06 Background in Agriculture
• 32:30 Scaling Hydroponics for Home Use
• 37:45 Hydroponics in Commercial Operations
• 39:05 Hydroponic Produce in Grocery Stores
• 40:22 Consumer Perception of Hydroponics
• 43:09 Educating Children about Hydroponics
• 44:28 Decentralizing the Food System
• 46:14 Hydroponics in Food Deserts
• 48:05 Hydroponics in Europe
• 49:29 Food Insecurity in Colorado
• 52:39 Empowering At-Risk Youth through Agriculture
• 01:04:39 Personal Experience with the Criminal Justice System
• 01:16:22 Learning about the law and making informed decisions
• 01:17:22 Taking a different path and avoiding prison
• 01:18:17 Breaking patterns and creating stability
• 01:19:17 Using agriculture as a tool for transformation
• 01:21:40 Forming Blooming Health Farms and focusing on youth
• 01:23:31 Breaking the cycle of youth crime
• 01:24:30 Combining skill sets to transform individuals
• 01:25:52 Recognizing the potential in individuals
• 01:26:23 Using teaching experience to facilitate personal growth
• 01:27:20 Using creativity and determination to overcome challenges
• 01:28:14 Using metaphors and analogies to teach life skills
• 01:29:11 Weaving business building and mentorship with youth
• 01:30:09 Networking and finding kids in need of help
• 01:31:07 Focusing on at-risk youth in the community
• 01:32:31 Teaching life skills through agriculture
• 01:33:02 Using questions and curiosity to guide interactions with youth
• 01:35:15 Being a guidepost and encouraging exploration
• 01:36:26 Being vulnerable and sharing personal experiences
• 01:39:54 Helping young people channel their energies into positive pursuits
• 01:45:04 Encouraging exploration and failure in safe environments
• 01:48:21 Focusing on successes and positive aspects of life
• 01:51:14 Being open and curious, and engaging with youth
• 01:53:53 Dominating the homestead chicken category